Stoke-by-Clare Priory facts for kids

Stoke-by-Clare Priory was a special kind of monastery in Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk, England. It was home to Benedictine monks. This priory was connected to a much larger monastery called Bec Abbey in Normandy, France. The priory was started again in 1124 and then closed down in 1415.

Early Beginnings: An Anglo-Saxon Church

Long ago, before the Norman Conquest, an important person named Earl Alfric lived in England. He was alive during the time of kings like Cnut and Edward the Confessor. Earl Alfric built a church or chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist near Clare Castle. He set up seven "canons" there. Canons were like priests who lived together and followed certain rules.

Moving to Stoke-by-Clare

Later, in 1090, a powerful lord named Gilbert Fitz Richard de Clare gave this church and its lands to Bec Abbey in France. This meant the church became a smaller part, or "cell," of the big French abbey.

Then, in 1124, Gilbert's son, Richard de Clare, decided to move the monks. He moved them from Clare Castle to a new spot in Stoke-by-Clare. This new home was in the beautiful valley of the River Stour, about two miles west of Clare.

Connected to Bec Abbey in France

From 1090 onwards, Stoke-by-Clare Priory was always linked to Bec Abbey. Bec Abbey was a very famous Benedictine monastery in Normandy, France, near Rouen. It was founded in 1034.

Bec Abbey became a major center for learning in the 11th century. Important thinkers like Lanfranc of Pavia and Anselm lived there. Both of them later became the Archbishop of Canterbury, a very important church leader in England. Because of these smart leaders, Bec Abbey became the most important monastery in the Anglo-Norman kingdom during the 12th century.

Many of the people who came to England with William the Conqueror supported Bec Abbey. They gave it lots of land and property in England. By the 15th century, Bec Abbey owned several smaller priories in England, including Stoke-by-Clare. Other priories included St Neots and Ogbourne. Even the London area of Tooting Bec got its name because it was once owned by Bec Abbey!

A Challenging Time for the Priory

Stoke-by-Clare Priory was known as an "alien priory." This meant it was controlled by a foreign monastery (Bec Abbey). Because of this, the English kings often didn't trust it completely.

During wars, especially the Hundred Years' War between England and France, the English king would often take money from the priory. This money was used to help pay for the war.

Despite these challenges, the priory also received many gifts. It was given the right to hold a market every Thursday in Stoke. It could also hold a three-day fair each year around the feast of St John the Baptist. The founding family gave the monks land, mills, fishing rights, and even control over more than ten churches. Bishops and popes also confirmed these rights over time.

Many of the gifts of land and money were small. But some were quite valuable, like the churches in Bradley and Stamborne. In 1291, the priory earned about £30 each year from lands in 17 different areas. It also had a lot of land in Essex, bringing its total income to about £53 a year.

In 1391, the head monk, Prior John Huditot, died. An English monk named Richard de Cotesford was chosen to be the new prior. Even the king agreed to this choice.

However, the priory still faced money problems. In 1379, King Richard II took £60 from the priory's money. This was to help his uncle, Thomas de Woodstock, who was the Earl of Buckingham. In 1395, the king took all the priory's yearly income to pay for his war with France.

The next month, the priory got some important support. It became "denizen," which meant it was officially recognized as an English institution, not a foreign one. But this was expensive! The prior had to pay 1,000 marks (a lot of money back then) to help build Westminster Abbey. Also, all the monks at Stoke-by-Clare had to be English from then on. They were also not allowed to send any money to the French Bec Abbey. These were common rules in England at that time for foreign priories.

The Priory Closes Down

Even with its new "denizen" status, the priory's luck didn't last. In 1415, Stoke-by-Clare Priory was officially closed down. This was part of a bigger plan to close many "alien priories" in England.

The local lord, Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, wanted to use the priory's resources to start a new college. This new place, called Stoke College, would be for secular canons (priests who didn't live under strict monastic rules).

This plan was approved by the pope at the time, antipope John XXIII. Later, it was also confirmed by Pope Martin V, who was recognized by everyone as the true pope. Because of some confusing church politics, the official document for the new college wasn't signed until 1419. The Earl of March was later buried at the site.

Leaders of Stoke-by-Clare Priory

Here are some of the leaders, called Priors, of Stoke-by-Clare:

• Nicholas (around 1174)
• John de Havelen (during King Henry II's time)
• Hugh (around 1198, 1202)
• Richard (around 1222)
• John (around 1247)
• Henry de Oxna (appointed 1325)
• Peter de Valle (appointed 1367)
• John de Huditot (died 1391)
• Richard de Cotesford (appointed 1391)
• William de Sancto Vedasto (appointed 1395)
• William George (appointed 1396)
• William Esterpenny (appointed 1396)